The Woman and the Scarlet Beast

1Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowlsa came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the judgment of the notorious prostitutebc who sits on manyd waters.e 2The kings of the earthf committed sexual immorality with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual immorality.”g 3So he carried me away in the Spirith, i to a desert. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was coveredj with blasphemous names and had seven heads and 10 horns.k 4The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls.l She had a gold cup in her hand filled with everything vilem and with the impurities of hern prostitution. 5On her forehead a cryptic nameo was written:

BABYLON THE GREAT
THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
AND OF THE VILE THINGS OF THE EARTH.

6Then I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the •saints and on the blood of the witnesses to Jesus.p When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

The Meaning of the Woman and of the Beast

7Then the angel said to me, “Why are you astonished? I will tell you the •secret meaning of the woman and of the beast, with the seven heads and the 10 horns, that carries her. 8The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the •abyssq and go to destruction.r Those who live on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the worlds will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present again.t

9“Here is the mind with wisdom:u, v The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. 10They are also seven kings:w Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for a little while. 11The beast that was and is not, is himself an eighth king, yet he belongs to the seven and is going to destruction. 12The 10 horns you saw are 10 kingsx who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.y 13These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. 14These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings.z Those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.aa”

15He also said to me, “The waters you saw,ab where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.ac 16The 10 horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute.ad They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire.ae 17For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His plan by having one purposeaf and to give their kingdomag to the beast until God’s words are accomplished.ah 18And the woman you saw is the great city that has an empireai over the kings of the earth.”